Electrical indicating means



LEae

Aug. 4, 1953 G. w. HOSTETLYER 2,648,059

ELECTRICAL INDICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. 6874/4 M/Vaafef/et 1 rant 1K9.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 ELECTRICAL INDICATING MEANS Gerald W. Hostetler, Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, Willow Run, Mich., a corporation of Nevada Application August 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,228

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical indicating means and is particularly adapted among other uses as a headlight beam and turn indicator for motor vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism of the character described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a common indicator for indicating both the connection of the headlight filaments and the operation of the turn signals of the motor vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the single indicator is an electric bulb.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the bulb is intermittently flashed at full brilliance for indicating operation of the turn signals and which is continuously illuminated at a lesser brilliance for indicating a high beam condition of the vehicle head lamp.

Other objects will be apparent from the specification, the appended claims and the drawings in which drawings,

Figure l is a diagrammatic representation of a unitized beam and turn pilot indicator embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the indicating apparatus with certain of the parts removed; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 mounted on a panel.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral I indicates generally an indicating apparatus having a single indicating lamp 2 for indicatin which of the filaments in the headlight lamps 4 and 6 are energized and also for indicating when one of the sets 8 or ID of the turn signal lamps are illuminated.

In general the apparatus I is arranged to illuminate the bulb 2 at reduced brilliance when the headlights are burning on high beam and are flashed from reduced to full brilliance when one of the turn signal sets is energized at the same time as the high beam headlights. If a turn signal set is energized with the headlights ofi or at low beam the bulb 2 flashes from off to full brilliance. In this manner a lamp or bulb 2 may be utilized which is flashed at sufiicient intensity or brilliance during the daylight hours to be easily seen by the motor vehicle operator and which during the hours in which headlights are used at high beam may be continually burned at a reduced intensity such that it will be easily visible to the operator but will not emit sufficient light to interfere with his vision of the road. Furthermore the use of two intensities of illumination will enable the lamp 2 to indicate that the turn signals are energized even with the head lamp energized for high beam operation.

The apparatus I is provided with three terminals 20, 22 and 24, and is further provided with a relay 26 having an energizing winding 28 and normally open sets of contacts 30-3! and 3233. The contact 32 is directly connected to one end of the winding 28, the other end of which winding is connected to the terminal 22. A conductor 34 is connected between the contact 32 and a current limiting resistor 36. The other end of the resistor 36 is connected through a hot Wire resistor 38 to the contact 33. This last mentioned contact 33 is connected by means of conductor 4a to the terminal 20. A conductor 42 connects the terminal 20 with the contact 30. The contact 3| is connected to conductor 43 which is in electrical contact with one of the terminals 44 of the pilot light bulb 2. The other terminal 46 of the bulb 2 is connected to ground as at 48. The contact 3| is also connected to one terminal of a voltage reducing resistor 50, the other terminal of which is connected to the terminal 24. A suitable source of electrical energy such as storage battery B is provided and as is usual in automotive practice, one terminal 52 thereof is grounded as at 5 4. It will be apparent that as far as this invention is concerned it is immaterial whether it is the positive or negative terminal of the battery 13 which is grounded. As shown the positive terminal is grounded. The other terminal 56 of the battery B is connected by means of conductor 58 to the terminal 20 and by means of branch conductor 60 through the usual on-ofi head lamp switch 62 to common terminal 64 of a usual high beam-low beam headlight switch 66 common to modern motor cars. The low beam terminal 68 of the switch 66 is connected by means of conductor 10 and branch conductors 12 and 14 to the low beam filament 16 of each of the headlights 4 and 6 and therethrough to ground. The high beam contact 18 of the switch 66 is connected through conductor and branch conductors 82 and 84 to the high beam filament 85 of the headlights 4 and 6 and therethrough to ground. The high beam contact 78 is also con.-

iicted by means of conductor 86 to the terminal The terminal 22 is connected by means of conductor 88 to the common terminal 98 of the usual turn signal switch 92 having a right-hand turn contact 94 and a left-hand turn contact 96. The right-hand contact 94 is connected by means of conductor 98 through one terminal of each of the two right-hand turn signal bulbs ID, the other terminals of which are connected to ground.

low intensity illumination upon closure of thehead lamp switch 62 assuming that the highbeam low-beam switch 66 is set for high-beam energization of the headlights 14 andfi, as shown.

Under such condition, a circuit will be -completed between the terminals 52 and 56 as follows: From the terminal 56, through the conductors 58 and 60, the switch 52, the switch 65,

conductors 88, 82 and 84, lamps 4 and 6 to ground, back through ground to the terminal 52. At the same time a circuit will be completed including the above traced circuit to the high- .beam terminal 18 'of the switch 66 and then of the resistor 58, a portion of the voltage of the battery B is absorbed whereby that available for illumination of the'indicator 2 is less than that supplied'by the battery B. This reduction in voltage reduces the intensity of illumination of the bulb 2 to something less than the full intensity when the full voltage of the battery B is applied thereto. It will be noted that under high-beam operation of the headlights, the bulb 2 will be illuminated-at low intensity, theintensity being just suflicient so that during conditions requiring illumination-of the headlights-4 and B, sufiicient light will be given'off-by the ,in-

dicator bulb 2 to indicate to the operator of the motor vehicle that the headlights '4 and 8 are operating on the high-beam filament without being brilliant enough to bother in driving. Actuation of the switch to place the head lamps in low-beam operation will tie-energize the bulb 2.

The operation of the apparatus l, with the headlight switch 62 open, for turnsignal indicating, is as follows:

Upon closure of the switch 92 for signaling a turn, a circuit will be completed between the terminals 52 and 56 of the battery B as follows:

From the terminal56, through theconductor 58,

the terminal 20, the conductor 48, the contact 33, the hot resistor 38, the resistor :35, the conductor 34, the winding 28, the terminal 22, the conductor'BB, the switch 92 and one of the conductors and sets of light '88|8 or IOU-8 to ground and to the grounded terminal 52. Norposition to close the contacts 38 and'3l whereby a circuit will be completed from the terminal 28, the conductor 42, the now closedcontacts 30 and .31, conductor 43, the terminal 44, the filament of the bulb 2, the terminal 46, ground 48, and the tacts 30 and 3|, it will therefore be appreciated that the full voltage of the battery B is applied to the filament of the bulb 2 whereby it is illuminated brilliantly for the period of time that the contacts 30 and 31 are closed.

As soon as the contacts 32 and 33 close, the short circuit around the resistors 36 and 38 permitsthe hot wire resistor'38'to again cool, shortening its 'length and *thereby pulling open the contacts 32 and 33. Opening of the contacts 32 and 33 will, of course, again energize the resistors v38and 38 and-reduce the current fiow through the 'winding'28, permitting the contacts 39 and 3l =to open and dc-energizing the bulb 2. As soon as the wire has again become heated, the

contacts-32 and'33 will close and thereby short .circuit the resistors and increase current flow through thewinding 28 for closing the contacts 30 and 3l to again give a brilliant illumination of the bulb 2. In order to prevent illumination of the bulb 2 in the event-of failure of one of either-of-the turn signal lamps8'or :l 9, the winding 28. issoproportionedrelative-to the current required by the sets of lights 8 or it that insufficient current is passed through the winding 28 unless both of the bulbs of one of thesets 8 or I8 is drawing current. Therefore the bulb 2 will not be :flashed eventhoughthe switch 92 be olosed'unless both ofthe bulbs of one of the sets 8 and I8 which is energized are illuminated. It will therefore be apparent that upon operation of the switch 82,-the bulb 2 will be given a pulsating energization between off and illumination at high brilliance which will indicate that one of the sets of signallights 8 and 10 has been energized and both ofthem areburning.

Now consider the operation of the system when the headlights are illuminated and the switch 66 issetfor-high beam, and at the same time the turn signal switch 92 is positioned for energizing one ofthe sets of bulbs 8 or I0. In this case, as-

sume that it-is the indication for a left turn and the switch 82 is positioned to-contact the terminal 96. As indicated above, closure of the switch :62 and the position of switch 66 into highbeam position for illuminating the high-beam filament of the lamps 4 and -6 will provide-a low intensity illumination ofthe bulb 2. Upon movement'ofthe switch 92 to contact 96 for a lefthand signal, the contacts 30, '3I,=32 and 33 will function-as set forth above. In this case, however opening'of the'contacts 30 and 3| will not cause the bulb 2 to go out butmerely to re- ,duce the energization to that which is applied through the resistor 58. Upon closure of the contacts 30 and 3l,-however, the full voltage of the battery B will be applied across the filament of the bulb 2 and the'bulb 2 will be at full brilliance.

It may, therefore, be seen that with the use of -a turn signal at the same time that the highbeamheadlamps are illuminated will cause the bulb -2 =to fiash intermittently from high brilliancy-to 10w brilliancy, that with the head lamps vides an indication which is brilliant enough for the operator to observe'the operation of-his turn signal-lamps in the-daytime and at the same time providesnightindication 'for both the turn signal and high headlight beam which does not interfere with the night operation of the motor vehicle.

Generically, the invention contemplates the use of the described elements in any relative physical location. More specifically as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the invention contemplates a unitary structure for the apparatus I which may be easily mounted on the instrument panel of a motor vehicle as, for example, on the speedometer casing H0. The structure comprises a cupshaped metallic shell I I2 having an end wall H4 adapted to seat against the rear wall of the casing I I0 and substantially concentric with an aperture H6 therein. The wall H4 is provided with a central aperture having a drawn peripheral inwardly extending wall H8 forming a bulb retainer for supporting the bulb 2. The wall H8 is provided with diametrically opposite J-shaped slots I20 for retaining the bulb 2. If desired, these slots I20 may be cut out of the wall H8 or may be formed by embossing. Suitable means such as screws extending through tabs on the shell H2 may be used to secure the shell II2 to the casing H0.

In the form shown the casing H0 is provided with a clamping ring I22 suitably secured to the casing IIO as by welding and drawn together by a screw I24 to clamp the shell H2.

The open end of the shell H2 is closed by a disk I26 of insulating material and held in place as by spinning the peripheral edge of the shell H2 to form a shoulder I281. The terminals 20, 22 and 24 are carried by the disk I26 and extend outwardly. These terminals may be provided with screws I30 for connecting the wires 58, 88

and 86 thereto. Or the screws may be omitted as shown in Fig. 3 and the terminals 20, 22 and 24 may be used to project into a female receptacle for connecting the aforesaid wires thereto.

The relay 26 comprises an I-shaped ferrous member I32 secured at one end to one arm of an angle member I34. The other arm of the member I34 is secured to the disk I26 and in electrical connection with the terminal 20. The winding 28 is wound about the narrow section of the member I34 and has one end portion connected to the terminal 22. The other end of the winding 28 is connected to arm I36 and an L- shaped member having its other arm I38 in juxtaposition with but electrically insulated from the free end portion of the member I32 as by a sheet of insulating material. A member I40 is in juxtaposition with the arm I38 but electrically insulated therefrom as by a sheet of insulating material. A first arm I42 of the member I40 extends at an angle thereto and carries the contact 3I. This arm I42 is electrically connected to the terminal 24 through the resistor 50.

The armature I04 carries the contact 30 adjacent its free end and the hinged end is hingedly secured to the inner end of the member I32 as by a flexible piece I44. The armature I04 is in bridging arrangement with the wide portions of the I-shaped member I32. The arm I02 is also flexibly secured at one end to the inner end of the member I30 diametrically opposite to the armature I04. The free end of the arm I02 carries the contact 33. Normally the arm I02 is urged by its flexible securement into a position to engage the contacts 32 and 33 but is held in a position to hold contact 33 away from contact 32 by the hot wire resistor 38 connected between the free end of the arm I02 and an insulating support I46 on the angle member I34.

A stop member I43 is arranged in juxtaposition 6 with the member I40 but is electrically insulated therefrom by a piece of sheet insulating material. The stop member I43 has arms I 430. and I 43b which limit contact opening movement of the arm I02 and armature I04 respectively. A leaf spring I430 having one end portion secured to the armature I04 and having its other end portion lying against the arm I43b normally maintains the armature against the arm I435. The juxtaposed elements have aligned apertures and are secured together by a rivet which extends therethrough but is smaller than the diameter of the aligned apertures and may be provided with an insulating sleeve if desired.

The member I40 also has an arm I48 which forms th conductor 43 and which is bent into J formation to provide for resilient engagement with terminal 44 of bulb 2. The resistance 36 is connected between the end of resistance 38 secured to support I46 and the arm I36.

This construction of apparatus I is simple and economical of manufacture and provides a compact unit for use either as original or accessory equipment for a vehicle.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a unitized beam and turn signal indicator for motor vehicles having turn signals and highbeam headlights, a single indicating lamp, a first circuit for energizing said lamp and energizable as a consequence of the energization of said turn signals, said circuit including means rendered operable as a consequence of said first circuit becoming energized to flash said lamp between a highly brilliant condition and a less brilliant condition, a second circuit for said lamp energizable as a consequence of the energization of said highbeam lights, said second circuit upon energization being operable to burn said lamp at an intermediate brilliance.

2. In a unitized beam and turn signal indicator for motor vehicles having turn signals and highbeam headlights, a housing, a bulb retainer carried by said housing and adapted to receive an indicating lamp, a first circuit for energizing said lamp and including said housing, said first circuit being energizable as a consequence of the energization of said turn signals, said circuit further including means rendered operable as a consequence of said first circuit becoming energized to flash said lamp between a highly brilliant condition and a less brilliant condition, a second circuit for said lamp and including said housing, said second circuit being energizable as a consequence of the energization of said high beam lights, and operable to burn said lamp at an intermediate brilliance.

GERALD W. HOSTETLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,103,276 Schmidinger Dec. 28, 1937 2,203,502 Michel June 4, 1940 2,258,747 Doane Oct. 14, 1941 2,340,895 Murray, Sr., et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,358,332 Kennett Sept. 19, 1944 2,439,502 Tate Apr. 13, 1948 2,450,450 Schmidinger Oct. 5, 1948 2,492,837 Briggs Dec. 27, 1949 2,519,368 Hallerberg Aug. 22, 1950 2,527,775 Sutton Oct. 31, 1950 2,527,779 Weiland Oct. 31, 1950 2,553,968 Hallerberg May 22, 1951 2,571,360 Hellerberg Oct. 16, 1951 

